November 29 is shaping up to be a ‘Super Night’ at Pompano Park, as the $422,000 FSBOA-sponsored Breeders Stakes are on tap along with a strong supporting card which featured some of the best pacers ever to grace the south Florida oval.
The marquee event could very well feature one of the most dominant Florida-bred horses in history – Markie – who is undefeated in five starts this year in her class of sophomore trotting fillies.
Owned by Jay Sears, Markie has annihilated her foes this semester, winning by margins ranging from three and three-quarter lengths to 23 lengths with four of her five wins measured in double digits.
Markie will be attempting to stretch her winning streak to nine, going back to last season when she was the champion of her two-year-old division, sealing the issue on Super Night 2013 at Pompano.
Trainer Kim Sears has taken nothing for granted saying, “so far, things have gone her way, but she is very high spirited…maybe you could even say she’s a brat. But once she gets going, she really gets going. We just hope she behaves on her big night.”
Waiting in the wings ‘just in case’ will be Trotting JC Poss, who has finished second to Markie on four occasions this season. Owned and trained by Steve Stabile, Trotting JC Poss was also the bridesmaid to Markie on Super Night last year.
So overwhelming has been Markie that her Super night event with a purse of $53,000 has drawn only four other challengers. The race has been scheduled as the third of three non-wagering events that will kick off the card.
Vying for supremacy in the division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings is Owosso Flash, owned by Laurie Poulin along with trainer Mike Deters.
Owosso Flash, named in honour of longtime owner John Spindler of Owosso, Michigan, has an unblemished record at Pompano Park, having won two Sunshine State Stakes then complementing that with a victory in the Stallion Stakes. He is coming into Super Night off of a spectacular 1:54.4 performance in the Melvyn Aylor Memorial despite fierce winds and a blinding rainstorm.
Two starts ago, the green youngster took a right-hand turn towards the paddock just after the start, but driver Mike Deters was able to get the colt composed. Once settled down, the son of Royel Millennium gobbled up a 15-length deficit and went on to score a victory in 1:58.1 courtesy of a final half-mile clocking of :57.
Gold Star Roger and Caesars Forum appear to have made the best case to upset ‘Flash.’
But trainer Mike Deters doesn’t think Owosso Flash is a ‘flash in the pan,’ saying, “He’s a very fast horse that is just learning his trade. I really think highly of him and hope he lives up to my expectations.”
The race for supremacy in the division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings has been a toss-up for the past two seasons between Tough Issue, Gold Star Kenny P and Warlock.
Last season, Tough Issue and Warlock fought bravely to the wir” with Tough Issue emerging the Super Night champ.
This semester, Gold Star Kenny P has joined the fray and even rose to the top of the class after three straight Sunshine State Stakes victories over Tough Issue. But, when the lucrative Sunshine final came along, Tough Issue rose to the occasion and pinned a five-length defeat on Kenny. In the Stallion Stakes, Tough Issue, again, took top honours. Warlock has been third in all of these encounters and looks to rebound on Super Night.
In the race for honours in the sophomore pacing division for fillies, the limelight currently belongs to Limelight, whose record remains unscathed in her five FSBOA stakes events.
Owned by Beauty in the Bridle Racing, trainer Rosie Huff has high praise for Limelight saying, “She has been very good against her class, yes, but this group has loads of talent, so I just hope her good fortune continues.”
Marion, Voluminous and J D Eleven Bells are just a few just waiting in the wings should opportunity present itself, but Limelight is the 5-2 morning line favourite.
In the juvenile class for trotting colts and geldings, the highly spirited Prairie Fortune, who is 6-5 on the morning line, appears to have the upper hoof, having scored a remarkable 2:00 win in the Aylor Stake a week ago despite the difficult weather conditions.
Trainer-driver Mike Deters recently said, “He does have a high turn of speed, but, having said that, it’s a challenge for him to keep his mind on business. When he’s good, no doubt he’s very good.”
Railee Workable and Victory Park are among those that have chased Prairie Fortune home, though several lengths away.
In the race for the Super Night crown in the pacing filly division for two-year-olds, Gold Star Dynasty and Paxxie have proven to be at the top of the class with ‘Dynasty’ having the slightest edge based on her game 1:56 victory for Peter Wrenn last Saturday night in the Aylor Memorial.
Three other Breeders Stakes events complete the FSBOA festivities. The supporting card features Hippomania III – the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace – carded as the ninth race on the program.
With the recent 1:49 winner Duc Dorleans out this week, Prairie Jaguar, second last week, and Panocchio, third in that same outing, renewing a spirited rivalry along with a quintet of others, including new arrivals Lyons Johnny, E Z Noah and Red Scooter. Thatll Be The Rei and Audreys Dream complete the talented million-dollar field in which five of the participants own marks of 1:50 or faster with the other two just a tick or two away.
Pari-mutuel post time is 7:30 p.m. with the trio of FSBOA Super Night non-betting events beginning at 6:35 p.m.
(Pompano)